Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

In the film, the circus is criticized for providing the masses with "fake," flashy entertainment that holds no real value. To this, the Barnum character makes a reply along the lines of, "See that joy on their faces? How can you call that fake?" That sums up my feelings for this film and the critics' harsh reactions to it. No, it's not historically accurate and the songs sound more like pop than classic show tunes, but at the end of the showing I went to, there was an ovation and lots of smiles from the audience. Songs, choreography and performances are memorable and charged with fantastic energy. As another reviewer said, it's a phenomenal celebration of music and humanity that makes you feel good.